How to “Clean” Your Dorm Without Really Trying

By the slump of midsemester, keeping your dorm room tidy inevitably falls to the wayside. As difficult as it is to make your room a priority, however, having a clean, organized living space can have an enormous impact on your morale. Just having a comfortable place to come back to at the end of a long day can make a huge difference. If you literally cannot find enough minutes in the day to clean your room, here are a few tips for making it as livable as possible.
1. Invest in air freshener. This is by no means a way to actually clean your room, but if you want to give the appearance of having that kind of environment, air freshener is a quick fix. All it takes is a few spritzes to get your room smelling, if not looking, fresh.
2. Make your bed. It’s probably the last thing you feel like doing when you wake up in the morning after a long night of cramming, but just puling your covers back up makes a huge difference. A neat bed automatically makes your room look tidier. You don’t need to fluff your pillows or straighten your sheets; just the illusion of a made bed goes a long way.
3. Purge. Make a point of throwing away junk—food wrappers, class notes you no longer need, even clothes you never wear. Do this on a regular enough basis, and your room will automatically feel bigger. You’ll know where things are because you don’t have as much to sift through, and just clearing out unnecessary crap gives a space the illusion of being sparkling clean.
4. Keep stuff off the floor. As annoying as it is to have clothes and books piled on your limited table space, it’s defitely wiser than keeping everything on the floor. Tripping over your dirty laundry is a surefire way to ruin the peace and comfort of a quiet space, and you’ll start avoiding your room altogether (and inviting guests over) if it’s a safety hazard as well as a mess.
5. Cover things. If Numbers 3 and 4 are too much of a hassle, just throw a blanket over the nearest pile of junk and call it a day. You can always organize your extra stuff later; for now, keep them out of sight and out of mind so you can relax in a seemingly uncluttered room.
Your room is your safe space. Whether you need your room totally uncluttered or you need a certain amount of clutter to feel comfortable, that’s your prerogative—but having a space that makes you feel as welcome
